Drop the Box
Spearheading the fast building wave of talented bands from the far-flung islands of Shetland, Drop the Box combine tradition-steeped musical prowess with wide-ranging contemporary influences. in a sound that's as lyrical as it's dynamic. Armed with the song writing skills and a gusty vocal style of frontman James L Henry, the sweetly contrasting singing of Inge Thomson and an instrumental line-up featuring fiddle, accordion, guitar, bass and drums, this youthful five-piece have been kicking up an ever-increasing storm since getting together as first-year students at Aberdeen University in 1992.Originally, if briefly, known as Native Sons, Drop the Box started life as an all-acoustic line-up, but the addition of bass and drums soon paved the way for the development of their own sound, from it's basis in traditional Irish and Shetland tunes to today's vibrantly distinctive mix of folk, world and indie styles. The band's CV already boasts a string of major festival appearances, including Glasgow's Celtic Connections, Lorient Festival Interceltique, Aberdeen Alternative Festival and Edinburgh's Fringe and Folk Festivals, plus numerous TV and radio appearances. Their self-titled debut album, CDLDL 1234 was released in October '95 to widespread praise. Having now embarked on a full-time career a hectic touring schedule has taken "the Box" to Canada, France, Scandinavia, Ireland and throughout the UK.
This current success represents a hard fought triumph over tragedy for the band. In October '95, around the time of the album's release, and shortly prior to filming a Grampian TV special, fiddler and founder member Michael Ferrie was diagnosed as having cancer. He died in February 1996, aged just 21. It was devastating blow, the loss of a best friend as well as a gifted fiddler, but after much heart-searching, the rest of the band decided to keep playing.
The assurance and polish of Drop the Box's performance before a 800 strong crowd at the 1996 Shetland Folk Festival was their first gig since Michael's death- showed them to be recovered, recharged and hungry for success once more. This is a band moving steadily from strength to strength, equally at home delivering a turbocharged set of reels, a haunting love song or a punchy roots rock ballad. Backed by passion, energy and abundant imaginative musicianship, their star is firmly in the ascendant.
'Honeytrap' features 10 new original compositions. The singing and writing
talents of Inge Thomson have come to the fore with 2 of her own songs featuring.
Fiddle player Kevin Henderson has also contributed a couple of his own tunes,
while former member Michael Ferrie is remembered through two tunes written
shortly before his untimely death.
Drop the Box are:
James L Henry, Inge Thomson, Kevin Henderson,
Fraser Mouat and Aky Gilliland
Drop the box have their own website and email address.
WWW: http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/dropthebox/
Email: dropthebox@zetnet.co.uk
